History[edit]

Commissioned by a Saudi Arabian businessman, Pelorus was built at the Lürssen yard in Bremen, Germany to the design of Tim Heywood and launched in 2003. It was sold to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2004. Abramovich had it refitted by Blohm & Voss, adding a second helicopter pad (forward), four zero-speed stabilizers, and modifications to the exhaust, mast, and stern.

Pelorus is powered by two 5,500-hp Wärtsilä 12v 26 engines with a maximum speed of 19 knots, but often cruises between 12 to 14 knots. Details about the interiors are scant, as Abramovich was protective of his family's privacy and highly security conscious. The yacht has a number of tenders on board and a garage full of 'toys', including jet skis.

While owned by Abramovich, the yacht had a full time crew of up to 46, in addition to a large security contingent that traveled with his family. Pelorus would cruise the Western Mediterranean during the summers, and commonly ventured down through the Suez for the winters. In 2005, Abramovich lent Pelorus to Frank Lampard and John Terry for two weeks as a bonus for being the two best players at his English football club Chelsea F.C. the previous season, and allowed Terry to honeymoon with his new wife, Toni Poole, on the yacht in 2007.[4]

Irina Abramovich received the yacht in 2009 as part of her divorce settlement. She sold it via broker Merle Wood to David Geffen in 2011 for $300 million.[1][2]